Malta has been ranked as the second best place to retire, by online magazine Live and Invest Overseas, beaten only by the Algarve in Portugal, which has topped the list for four years in a row.

This year, the survey covered 30 destinations, compiled from feedback from expats, experts, and correspondents.

The study, which has been conducted for over 30 years, looks at 13 categories, with climate given as a bonus as it is considered to be the most subjective of the categories.

Malta only ranked well in the fact that English is spoken, in infrastructure and for climate, but its relatively high ratings in all categories gave it an “A” rating overall.

1. Cost of Living
Hoi An, Vietnam
Monción, Dominican Republic
Hua Hin, Thailand,

2. Health Care
Algarve, Portugal
Paris, France

3. Residency Options
Portugal
Belize
Panama

4. Entertainment
Paris, France
Lisbon, Portugal
Budapest, Hungary

5. Recreation
Algarve, Portugal
Abruzzo, Italy

6. English spoken
Belize
Malta

7. Expat community
Mexico

8. Taxes
Panama
Belize
Malaysia
Dominican Republic

9. Real estate affordability
Monción, Dominican Republic
Hoi An, Vietnam
Abruzzo, Italy
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

10. Real estate restrictions
Belize
Dominican Republic
France
Italy
Portugal

11. Infrastructure
Paris, France
Budapest, Hungary
Mazatlan, Mexico
Valletta, Malta
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

12. Environmental factors
Cayo, Belize
Moncion, Dominican Republic
Bled, Slovenia
Saint-Chinian, France

13. Crime and safety
Algarve, Portugal
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

Bonus: Climate
Algarve, Portugal
Medellin, Columbia
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Crete
Paris, France
Valletta, Malta